TEDxStormont

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Alma White

  Disability Rights Campaigner, Founder of Caleb'sCauseNI

  Alma White is a mum of three, campaigning for Post-19 Special Educational Needs legislation for young people who have disabilities in Northern Ireland. Unlike England and Wales, Northern Ireland has no legislation in place to protect post-19 special educational needs (SEN) pupils. Alma has established CalebsCauseNI, a campaign in the name of her son Caleb, so that young SEN school leavers have every opportunity to fulfil their potential and be recognised equally in the eyes of the law. As Caleb's mum Alma is campaigning on behalf of Caleb and every other young person who has a right to Further Education.

• Chamindra Weerawardhana

  Feminist, Theorist, Peacebuilder and Worldmaker

  Dr Chamindra Weerawardhana is a Sri Lankan feminist political theorist and organiser. Chamindra has worked extensively in international human rights advocacy, political organising and strategising, and is the co-founder of the Consortium for Intersectional Justice, an international expert body that specialises in the promotion of democracy and business and human rights. She is a commissioner at the O’Neill-LANCET Commission on racism, structural discrimination and global health, housed at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University. Chamindra is the author of many peer-reviewed articles, contributions to the global media, and the 2018 monograph Decolonising Peacebuilding. She is currently completing her second book, Feminism in the Age of Fascism. Chamindra is an alumna of Université de Tours (France) and Queen’s University Belfast.

• David Levin

  Writer and Agency Founder

  David Levin is a writer, agency founder and tone-of-voice specialist whose career took off after he set up a Twitter account for his local pub in London, which gained a cult following, won Time Out's Social Account of the Year and led to him accidentally becoming the UK's first professional tweeter. His social agency, which he co-founded with actor/comedian David Schneider, ran feeds for the likes of Spotify, Amazon, Channel 4 and Have I Got News for You. David recently moved to Northern Ireland where, when he's not busy managing the social media for a sportsperson of the famous variety, he's becoming increasingly obsessed with Northern Irish sayings. David intends for the craic to remain at 90 for his TEDxStormont talk or 65 at an absolute minimum.

• Declan Lawn

  Award-winning Screenwriter and Director

  Declan Lawn is an investigative journalist and acclaimed writer. He worked for BBC television, including ten years as a reporter on BBC Panorama and on BBC Spotlight in Northern Ireland. He left that career to become a screenwriter and director, a career in which he has had considerable success. Working alongside his creative partner Adam Patterson, he has written and directed the multi-award-winning short film “Rough”, written BBC hit TV show “The Salisbury Poisonings”, and most recently written and directed the feature-length film “Rogue Agent”, a psychological thriller starring James Norton and Gemma Arterton. He is the co-creator of the award-winning Belfast-based drama Blue Lights. Recently Blue Lights won Best Drama Series at the prestigious Broadcast Awards. Blue Lights is now shown on TV networks across the world. Currently filming its third series, a fourth series has already been commissioned.

• Farah Black

  Disability Rights Advocate, Amputee and Entrepreneur

  Farah Black is a determined disability rights advocate, amputee, and entrepreneur committed to transforming Northern Ireland into a centre of excellence for disabled people. A pioneer for change, Farah draws on lived experience and unwavering resilience to challenge barriers and inspire progress. With many years in senior management roles across two major retail powerhouses, Farah brings strategic insight and business acumen to her advocacy work. She is also a passionate champion of the purple pound—the collective spending power of disabled people—and tirelessly campaigns for full accessibility across all businesses and services. Farah’s extensive personal experience with the social care system gives her a deep understanding of its impact on mental health, allowing her to advocate with empathy, authenticity, and insight. Through leadership, lived experience, and unshakeable vision, Farah is helping shape a more inclusive future for all.

• Fergal Keane

  Author and Special Correspondent, BBC

  Fergal Keane OBE is one of the BBC's most distinguished correspondents and an award-winning broadcaster and author. He has reported for the BBC from Northern Ireland, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Balkans for more than 30 years. He’s made a number of trips to Ukraine in 2022 and 2023. He has been awarded a BAFTA, been named reporter of the year on television and radio, winning honours from the Royal Television Society and the Sony Radio Awards, most recently for his Radio 4 series Taking a Stand. Keane has won the George Orwell prize for literature, the James Cameron Prize and the Edward R. Murrow Award from the US Overseas Press Association. He is the author of a number of bestselling books including Letter to Daniel and his memoir All of These People. His latest book is The Madness – a memoir of war, fear and PTSD – a look at what draws him to reporting conflict, what keeps him there and offers a reckoning of the damage done.

• Jake Bishop

  Raising Awareness of Sudden Hearing Loss

  Jake Bishop has just graduated with First Class Honours from Northumbria University. A few days from his 21st Birthday in October 23, Jake was assaulted in Newcastle Upon Tyne city centre. The assault left Jake profoundly deaf in both ears. When the audiologist revealed his hearing wasn’t coming back - he was a very broken young man. Facing the unknown and very dark times, Jake feared he would never hear his family, music, finish University, travel, work - his world turned upside down and his life was on hold for a year. A lifeline was thrown when he was fast tracked for a cochlear implant. From that moment, Jake embraced his ‘gifts’ and hasn’t looked back. He wants people to have conversations that help them to ‘wake up to deafness’ by taking on challenges that are out of his comfort zone to raise awareness of sudden hearing loss. Being only new to the deaf world Jake’s conversation is only getting started.

• Judith Gillespie

  History-making first female Chief Police Officer in Northern Ireland

  Judith Gillespie OBE made history as the first female Chief Police Officer in Northern Ireland, a visible, resilient and transformational leader through challenging times. Judith is now an independent leadership adviser and diversity champion. Belfast-born, Judith holds a BA in Public Policy and Administration and a Master's Degree in Applied Criminology from the University of Cambridge.

• Laura McDaid

  Journalist and Podcaster

  Laura McDaid is a journalist and media lecturer at the North West Regional College. After 17 years working at BBC News NI, Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle, she began a freelance career from her home in Limavady in 2023. In her BBC Sounds podcast series 'Assume Nothing, The Last Request', she investigated the abuses carried out on women and children at mother and baby homes across the island of Ireland alongside producer Kerry Jamison. The series, which was awarded at the ARIAs and New York Festivals for its journalism, also told a personal story, in which Laura set out to trace the birthmother of her friend Martin Barry, who died at the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland in 2005.

• Louise Warde Hunter

  Peace and Reconciliation Advocate

  Louise Warde Hunter is the Chief Executive of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. On taking up her role at the ICRIR Louise said “As a public servant, I have long been committed to making a difference to people’s lives. I am honoured to work for those who have been bereaved or seriously injured through the Troubles/Conflict in seeking answers and justice.” Over a thirty-year leadership career Louise has also worked as a CEO and Director in the voluntary sector across the UK and Ireland in organisations developing civic leadership and improving outcomes for vulnerable young people and their families. She was previously Chief Executive and Principal of Belfast Metropolitan College, one of the UK’s largest Further Education Colleges. Born and raised in Belfast, Louise is a graduate of both the University of Manchester and Queen’s University, Belfast.

• Mark McCormack

  Northern Ireland Software Economy Champion

  Mark McCormack is Managing Director of Aflac Northern Ireland, a leading US-based insurance provider. Marks leads operations for the insurance company’s Technology and Cybersecurity Innovation Centre based in Belfast. Prior to joining Aflac, Mark was a Senior Vice President at Citi and a Software Development Leader at BT and BIC Systems. Mark is chair of Software NI, the industry body that represents and advocates for the software sector in Northern Ireland.

• Michael Maisey

  Author and Community Leader

  Michael Maisey is a bestselling author, speaker, and founder of the charity The CIP Project. Convicted of armed robbery at just 15, he spent much of his teenage years locked in a prison cell for 23 hours a day. Following his release, Michael committed himself to transformation—rebuilding his life from the inside out. Now over 17 years sober, he has dedicated his life to helping others reconnect—with themselves, each other, and their communities. Through The CIP Project, Michael supports people across the UK and Ireland, sharing powerful methods that foster deep human connection. His work has reached schools, prisons, and communities nationwide, offering a message of hope, healing, and lasting change.

• Niamh Noade

  Harpist, Singer, Songwriter

  Niamh Noade is a unique talent making waves in the music industry. This singer-songwriter and harpist from Co. Armagh is captivating audiences with her distinctive blend of traditional Celtic harp and contemporary influences. Possessing a rare and unique voice that has been lauded since her rendition of "The Winner Takes It All" performed on The Voice Kids UK 2023, Niamh has showcased her exceptional vocal ability and skilful harp playing, garnering over 20 million views and establishing her as one to watch. Sharing the stage with previous prominent figures like Barack Obama and Richard Branson, Niamh proved her ability to engage and inspire diverse crowds. Niamh has performed at numerous local festivals and charity events throughout the UK demonstrating that Niamh’s journey isn’t just about music, its about making a difference. With over £11,500 raised for children’s charities and performances at numerous charity events she’s proven that her heart is as big as her talent.

• Scott Christie

  StrengthscopeMaster™ and Team Whisperer

  Scott Christie is the Head of Training and Integration at Strengthscope, a company that assesses, develops, and leverages individuals' natural strengths for improved workplace performance and engagement.. His passion and skill for creating lightbulb moments makes him a sought-after facilitator and speaker. Scott describes himself as ‘a walking, breathing case study of how using strengths can help you achieve happiness and success in your career’. He draws on the skills and experiences from a ‘squiggly’ career – from 15 years as a stage actor, work with leading NGOs, award winning start-ups to the Guinness World Records organisation. With Strengthscope, He has worked with clients as diverse as Siemens, Amazon Web Services, the Met Police and the NHS. This has given Scott a deep, empathetic understanding of how strengths and Strengthscope® can help in any work situation.

• Tahnee McCorry

  CEO White Ribbon NI, Ending Violence against Women and Girls

  Tahnee McCorry, CEO and founder of White Ribbon NI, works to end violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland. Her groundbreaking "Listen, Learn, Lead" framework has been embraced by organisations across Northern Ireland , including the Police Service of Northern Ireland , schools, Ulster GAA, The Prison Service of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Football League. Tahnee’s passion lies in engaging and leading men and boys as crucial allies, promoting honest dialogue, education, and fierce empathy for lasting change. She has a fifteen year old son who she describes as her muse, the reason she believes in this generation of boys to break cycles and end violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland.